ACW,
I beg to differ...
...but some of the circuits flown by Tomahawks at my home base are certainly bigger than the Hercules circuits I've witnessed whilst flying overhead Lynham (under a zone transit of course).
They go bombing (not literally) downwind at 800' QFE, overflying a medium sized town that is positioned just after I would turn base. Then they proceed to the centre of the town before turning onto a right base. Definately not able to glide clear and that is if they are at circuit height. Then they start descending on base down to 500' to final where they have to drag it in with lots of power. If they have any engine failure at all past the point where I and indeed most sensible pilots would, well they are either going into the town OR into the Bristol Channel's lovely muddy water.
The Tornado's at local St Athan are making MUCH MUCH tighter circuits than the Tomhawks / Warriors / etc at Cardiff. In fact you could probably fit two of their circuits in ours.
Grrr... always makes me cringe.
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.